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Friday, September 19, 2008

McGehee, AR

History Of McGehee

The history of the City of McGehee and the history of the railroad through McGehee are intricately interwoven. The history of the railroad dates back to 1870 when a railroad was constructed from Pine Bluff southeast through Varner, to Chicot.

In April 1923, the Gulf Coast Lines and the International-Great Northern were acquired, forming the Missouri Pacific Lines.

Important in the history of the town of McGehee is the McGehee family which came to the area from Alabama in 1857. Benjamin McGehee, his wife, Sarah, a son, Abner and daughters Laura and Mary settled on land that is now a part of McGehee.

Abner McGehee, son of Benjamin and Sarah McGehee purchased 240 acres of land on July 1, 1876, on which the town of McGehee was later to be located.

When the railroad came into McGehee in 1878 and continued south and southwest, people began to move into the area. Abner McGehee constructed a large commissary building and entered the mercantile business to accommodate the new arrivals.

One of the first buildings in the area was a saw mill. The lumber cut in this mill was used to build shotgun type rent houses.

A post office was established in the McGehee commissary, and in 1879 Abner McGehee became the first postmaster. The post office was named McGehee and served between 400and 500 people.

An order of incorporation was signed March 5, 1906. The first meeting of the town council was held July 21, 1906.

Today the enonomy of the area is largely dependent upon agriculture. The railroad has been largely replaced by the trucking industry which hauls farm products from the gins and grain bins of the area to their destination. From a population of 400 in 1879, McGehee has grown into a community of about 5,000 citizens. The citizens are proud of their hospital, their schools, their recreational facilities, their churches and their city government. As port facilities on the Mississippi River are developed and as the present highway system is rebuilt to accommodate increased traffic, McGehee will continue to grow.

McGehee Bank is a locally owned bank with a long, proud history of delivering quality personal service to our community, its businesses and our citizens. For over 75 years, we have been committed to recognizing our customer's needs and providing products and services to meet those needs.

We strive to maintain our small town banking atmosphere, while continuing to grow and change with technology. I hope you enjoy browsing our home page and welcome you to visit us again.

President

McGehee is a city in Desha County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,570 at the 2000 census.

History

McGehee was founded as a rail-road town. The population of McGehee has been declining since the late 1960s. McGehee was the home town of horror novelist Nancy A. Collins.

Nancy A. Collins (born 10 September 1959) is a United States horror fiction writer best known for her series of vampire novels featuring her character Sonja Blue. Collins has also written for comic books, including the Swamp Thing series, Jason Vs. Leatherface, Predator: Hell Come A Walkin and her own one-shot Dhampire: Stillborn.

Collins was born in McGehee, Arkansas, United States, lived in New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1980s, and as of 2005 lives in Atlanta, GA .

The Wiley A. McGehee Memorial Park, which is a cypress break converted into a recreational area, offers picnicking facilities, a scenic duck pond and fishing for the young.

In the South Annex Park there are tennis courts and a small baseball field. There is a municipal swimming pool as well as pools at the McGehee Boy's Club and at the Country Club (members only). Other tennis courts are available at the high school and at the Country Club.

There is a 9-hole golf course at the Delta Country Club for members only.

Just twenty miles south of McGehee is Lake Chicot State Park and Chicot County Park, both located on Lake Chicot, a large Oxbow Lake. Fishing is a popular sport not only on Lake Chicot but also on the Mississippi River, the Arkansas River, and the White River.

Camping is available at both the county and the state parks. There are many private campgrounds in the area.

Hunting and fishing are both popular sports. The lakes and streams provide a wide variety of game fish, particularly bass. In season, hunters bag deer, ducks, turkey, squirrel, quail, rabbits, doves, and raccoons. The majority of hunters hunt on private leases. There is a commercial duck club.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Regulations are published in two additions each year and are available at sporting goods stores. Residency is sixty days. Licenses include residents, non-residents, non-resident trip, archery, hunting dogs, deer tag, turkey tag and duck stamps.